Fatorda police station takes guard; focus on guns, drugs, goondagiri

MARGAO
Expressing concern over the entry of the "illegal gun culture" prevalent in the North Indian States to Goa, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday harped on "intelligence gathering" and "effective patrolling" to keep criminals and criminal activity at bay and to provide security for the lakhs of tourists visiting the state.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Fatorda police station in the presence of TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai and the top police brass led by DGP Mukesh Chander, the Chief Minister justified setting up of more police stations in view of the increasing number of visitors to the State, besides the entry and exit of outstation criminal gangs.
Parrikar further gave a clean chit to the Goa police, virtually saying that they are second to none, though in the same vein, admitted that sometimes the police force becomes lethargic in their functioning. "Intelligence gathering along with patrolling is the need of the hour to curb growing crimes. The gun culture prevailing in UP and other states is slowly coming into Goa as evident by the recent shootout in Margao. The police need to go to the source of the firearm," he said.
Justifying the decision to carve out a separate police station for Fatorda, Parrikar said "Goa needs more police stations as lakhs of visitors visit the State every year. Then we have criminal gangs such as the Cheddi gang and others," he said, while clarifying that creation of Fatorda police station will do no injustice to Margao police station.
Saying that the police station has been created with all permissions, Parrikar, however said it may take six months to overcome teething problems.
In his address, the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai made it clear that the new police station will have to ensure zero tolerance to drugs and goondagiri. "Police personnel manning the Fatorda station should crack down on drugs and goondagiri. Otherwise, they should leave and go somewhere else. This government espouses the cause of Goemkarponn and there cannot be any match fixing", he said. Saying that the inauguration of the Fatorda police station is just a trailer, Sardesai said a host of projects are in the pipeline and will soon become a reality making Fatorda a unique constituency. "An independent post office will soon become a reality in Fatorda. And I will continue to push for an independent Municipal body for Fatorda", he asserted.
Earlier, DGP Mukesh Chander in his welcome address, said the government has proposed a number of police stations, which will soon become a reality.
DIG Vimal, SP South Arvind Gawas, IPS, DySP Raju Raut, MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, councilors were present on the occasion.